Can segregating machine



July 15, 1969 N. WILDER 3,455,443

CAN SEGREGATING MACHINE Filed March 16, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 LESLIE N. Wl LDER ATTORNEYS July 15, 1959 L. N. WILDER 3,455,443

CAN SEGREGATING MACHINE Filed March 16, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet :3

INVENTOR.

LESLlE N. WILDER ATTORNEYS ZAM 20 United States Patent 3,455,443 CAN SEGREGATING MACHINE Leslie N. Wilder, Los Altos, Calif., assignor to lcore Industries, a corporation of California Filed Mar. 16, 1967, Ser. No. 623,575 Int. Cl. B07c N US. Cl. 20974 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A can segregating machine having spring mounted deflection plates having a lost motion linkage permitting closer spacing of cans.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention Can segregating machines wherein the can being inspected or segregated rolls down a sloping path and wherein deflection plates can be drawn outwardly allowing the can to pass to a lower path.

Description of the prior art The closest known prior art is Patent 3,203,547 wherein the deflection plates move outwardly to allow a can to pass therebetween. This means that a can must travel the entire length of the deflection plate before the next can enters between the plates, otherwise there might be a faulty segregation action. The present invention provides a lost motion linkage permitting closer spacing of cans on the segregating machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a segregating device such as the inspection device of the general type shown in Patent 3,203,547. In that patent, an inspection device is shown wherein containers roll down a path and are inspected by one or more photocell devices and segregated into upper and lower paths depending upon the results of the inspection but the device of the present invention is not limited to this particular inspection scheme but is applicable to any device wherein it is desired to separate rolling containers into two paths, one of which lies over the other. Thus the device of the present invention might be used with a mechanical or electrical sensing device, a photoelectric sensing device, a weighing device or other apparatus.

In such segregating devices, it is customary to provide a first pair of slanting rails wherein the articles, such as cans or jars, roll down the rails and wherein diversion plates are located in an otherwise interrupted place in the rails, said diversion plates normally forming a continuation of the rails but being adapted to be withdrawn outwardly, removing support from the container so that it can drop onto a second set of rails located below the first set of rails. When such devices are used in high speed operations, a difliculty arises if the articles ar too closely spaced. Since the primary diversion plates must be of some substantial length, there is always the possibility that a previously rejected container will be passing downwardly through the plates, holding them in their open or extended position as the next article reaches the plates. Assuming that the next article is one which should follow the upper path, the machine will improperly reject the next container because the plates are being held apart by the previous defective container. In accordance with the present invention, an improved form of diversion plate and actuating mechanism is provided so that a lost motion is provided and the plate can swivel; an article can be between the plates at the downstream end, yet the upstream 3,455,443 Patented July 15, 1969 lCe end of the plates will swing back into the normal position so that the following container will not be improperly diverted.

Another difliculty with such inspection machines heretofore employed has been that secondary diversion plates are employed downstream from the primary diversion plates. No mechanism is provided for actuating these secondary diversion plates, the article itself merely holding the plates outwardly, giving the container suflicient time to fall between them after the diversion has been started by the primary diversion plates. Heretofore, these plates have been provided with guide slots which are subject to excessive wear and sticking. According to one aspect of the present invention, the secondary diversion plates float freely in a slot and are held in place by a leaf spring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a partial plan view showing the action of the deflection plates as a can passes through the device of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning now to a description on the drawings by reference characters there is shown an inspection device having an upper set of rails 5 and 7 and a lower set of rails 9 and 11. The upper set of rails is interrupted so that the absence of the deflection plates hereinafter described, support would not be provided for a container between the points 13 and 15 on the rail 5 as well as its opposite counterpart 7. Mounted over the rails may be some form of inspection device such as the feeler 17 or photoelectric cell 19 shown in phantom. However, the device of the present invention is not necessarily used as an integral part of an inspection device and might be triggered by some other device upstream having a suitable memory so that a can would or would not be deflected as it reached the deflection plates hereinafter described.

For the purpose of providing for the deflection action, a set of primary deflecting plates 21 and 23 is provided. These are free to slide in slots 25 in the framework of the machine and normally these deflection plates are held inwardly as is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 by means of leaf springs 27 and 28 and when in this position, the deflection plates form a continuation of the rails 5 and 7. Preferably the deflection plates have an inturned lip such as is shown at 30 and 31 at the upstream end the purpose of which will be later apparent. In each of the primary deflection plates a triangular slot 30A is provided with the apex 32 of the triangle facing in the upstream direction while one of the longer flat sides 34 of the triangle, which is furthest from the track, lies parallel with the rails when the deflection plate is in its normal or inward position. In order to deflect the plates outwardly, solenoids 36 and 38 are provided, each of which has an armature 40 pivoted to an L-shaped arm 42. Arm 42 is pivoted at 44 to the frame of the machine and at its opposite end has a thin, leaflike member 46 which extends into the slot 30A of the deflection plate. When solenoids 36 and 38 are not energized, the deflection plates biased by the leaf springs assume the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 so that a container rolling along the rails will be supported by the deflection plates and continue in its substantially straight path. However, if the solenoids are actuated, as is shown in dash lines in FIGURE 3, the

3 plates will be drawn outwarly permitting a container to roll off of the ends of the rails 5 and I and fall downwardly onto the secondary rails 9 and 11.

In FIGURE 4, the lost motion or swivelling action of the deflection plates is illustrated. As the solenoids are actuated, the flat member 46 pulls against the flat side 34 of slot 30A, so that the entire plate moves outwardly. In this position a container will roll between the deflection plates. Since the pulse given to the solenoids is only momentary, solenoids are released long before a can has cleared the deflection plates. However, it will be noted from the position of the can shown at 48 in FIGURE 4 that despite the fact that the solenoid has been released, the can itself is now wedged between the deflection plates holding them open. However, since the deflection plates can pivot because of the lost motion connection, it will be seen that the next following can 54 is supported by the lip 29 of the deflection plate, despite the fact that can 48 is wedged between the deflection plates, holding the downstream ends of the deflection plates in the open position. It is thus apparent, that with the lost motion linkage of the present invention, the spacing of the articles can be much closer since otherwise, it would be necessary for one container to completely clear the deflection plates before the next container Was allowed to reach the deflection plates.

In addition to the primary deflection plates which are acted on by the solenoids, two or more pairs of secondary deflection plates are ordinarily used in such devices. The reason for the secondary deflection plates is that the primary deflection plates are ordinarily relatively short and, since the containers are rolling at a relatively high rate of speed, gravity has not caused them to clear vertically the deflection plates before they get to the end of the deflection plates. These secondary deflection plates heretofore have been mounted on either guides or pivots and were subject to excessive wear and jamming. However, in accordance with the present invention, the secondary deflection plates are made free floating in the same manner as the primary deflection plates. Thus these plates can move in and out as well as twist and pivot. This construction is seen in FIGURES 1, 2 and 4. Here the plates 52 and 54 pass through a slot 56 in the rail structure. Each of the secondary deflection plates is held in its inward position by means of leaf springs as at 58 and 60. The action of the plates is seen in FIGURE 4. It will be noted that the container 48 has pushed the secondary deflection plate 62 out of its path but that the plate has not moved outwardly parallel to the path of travel of the container but has as sumed an angle thereto 50 that a container such as 53 would be supported at its opposite end yet as it moves forward, container 48 will swing the deflection plate out of the way.

Although solenoids are shown for actuating the deflection plates, this is given for illustrative purposes only and various mechanical, electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic linkages may be employed.

It is believed apparent from the foregoing that I have provided an improved form of segregating device which permits much closer spacing of articles on the device than has heretofore been known. Further a device has been provided which is substantially jam proof in its method of operation.

I claim:

1. In a round container segregating device wherein containers roll along a first pair of spaced, slanting rails and wherein said containers can be diverted to a second set of rails underlying the first set of rails, the improvement comprising:

(a) an interruption in each of said first set of rails,

(b) a pair of primary diversion plates, one located in each of said interruptions and normally forming a continuation of said first set of rails,

(0) means for drawing said primary diversion plates outwardly whereby a container moving on said first pair of rails will fall onto the second set of rails and (d) said means including a lost motion linkage having a triangular slot with a side of the triangle furthest from the rails lying parallel to the rails and with an apex of the triangle pointing upstream and wherein a flat strip fits loosely in said triangular slot and serves to withdraw the diversion plate whereby the diversion plates can pivot through a limited angle, permitting the upstream end of said plates to form a continuation of the rails while the downstream ends of said plates permit containers to pass therebetween.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the primary diversion plates have an inwardly extending lip section at the upstream end.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein a solenoid is employed to actuate the diversion means.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein free floating secondary diversion plates are employed down stream of the primary diversion plates, said secondary diversion plates having a slot therein with a leaf spring through said slot, said leaf spring biasing the secondary plates inwardly and parallel to the containing path to form a continuation of the rails, yet allowing pivotal motion of the secondary blades.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,640,590 6/ 1953 McClelland 20974 3,203,547 8/1965 Giulie 209-111] 3,289,832 12/1966 Ramsey 209-111] X ALLEN N. KNOWLES, Primary Examiner RICHARD A. SCHACHER, Assistant Examiner 

